The big news this week is, of course, QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY. Where did Queer Eye’s Fab Five experts come from? Carson Kressley began his career as an independent fashion stylist, which led to a long tenure on with Polo Ralph Lauren in New York, where he worked on the design team of the men’s sportswear division and in corporate advertising. Carson has degrees in Finance and Fine Art from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. He is also a nationally ranked equestrian and a former member of the U.S. World Cup Equestrian Team. Kyan Douglas (Grooming) is a specialist in men’s skin care and has worked in the hair, spa and retail industries, and as a colorist for TV and magazine projects including TLC’s What Not to Wear, While You Were Out, and Child Magazine. Ted Allen (Food and Wine) has been a contributing editor to Esquire since 1997, and co-authored four books based on his column Things A Man Should Know. He was previously a restaurant critic with Chicago Magazine. Thom Filicia (Design) has his own interior design firm and was named one of House Beautiful’s Top 100 American Designers. He holds a B.A. in Interior Design from Syracuse University. Jai Rodriguez is an actor, singer and dancer who is starring in the lead role of Zanna in the off-Broadway musical hit Zana, Don’t! Jai previous played Angel in Rent and regularly performs his solo act in Manhattan nightspots.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9ALL MY CHILDREN (ABC, noon) Eden Riegel and Susan Lucci, who play lesbian teen Bianca and her mother Erica Kane, visited The View earlier this week.HOLLYWOOD SQUARES (CBS, 4 p.m.) Ellen is Center Square all week.E! TRUE HOLLYWOOD SQUARES (E!, 7 p.m.) Gay Squares Paul Lynde and Jim J. Bullock.ISAAC MIZRAHI (Oxygen, 9:30pm) Jewel and Rachel Dratch.
THURSDAY, JULY 10HEROES OF JEWISH COMEDY (COM, 4 p.m.) Part 4 of a new 6-part documentary series: ‘On The Road’ Sandra Bernhard included.AMAZING RACE 4 (CBS, 7 p.m.) The two gay-inclusive teams are still in the race: Chip and Reichen, a gay married couple from Beverly Hills, and Tian and Jaree, The Lesbian/Straight Actress/Model Team.ISAAC MIZRAHI (Oxygen, 9:30pm) Illeana Douglas.
FRIDAY, JULY 11PYRAMID (Ch 6 WCIU, 4:30 p.m.) Classic Disco singers Maxine Nightingale (‘Right Back Where We Started From’) and Evelyn Champagne King (‘Shame’).HEROES OF JEWISH COMEDY (COM, 3:30 p.m.) Part 5: ‘Angst’ Lesbian comic Judy Gold is among the comedians interviewed.ANGELINA JOLIE ON 20/20 (ABC, 9 p.m.) Angelina Jolie talks to Barbara Walters about her affair with a woman, among other topics.ARLISS (HBO, 10 p.m.) Arliss has trouble landing a job for a quarterback (Alan Smith) because teams suspect the player is gay.
SATURDAY, JULY 12JUST SHOOT ME (NBC, 7:30 p.m.) New: ‘Brandi, You’re A Fine Girl’ Jenny McCarthy returns as Finch’s best friend, Bert—now a transsexual named Brandi—who joins Finch as a couple at their high school reunion in order for Finch to arrive with a beautiful blonde, while Bert can attend without revealing his true identity. At the reunion, the girl they both competed for in high school (Kristy Swanson) hits it off with Brandi—and reveals her past crush on Bert.BEYOND THE GLORY: GREG LOUGANIS (Fox Sports Network, 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.) A new documentary series. Louganis talks about his battles with depression and his abusive six-year relationship with boyfriend and business manager Jim Babbitt. ‘The first year we were seeing each other he raped me at knifepoint,’ Louganis says. ‘And I was convinced I deserved it.’ Louganis came out in his 1995 autobiography, also revealing that he had attempted suicide three times.
SUNDAY, JULY 13GAY WEDDINGS MARATHON (Bravo, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.) Repeat of the entire series.SEX AND THE CITY (HBO, 8 p.m.) Carrie and Berger articulate their feelings. Samantha revels in role-playing with hunky waiter Jerry (Jason Lewis) but can’t deal with the real thing. Charlotte gets carried away preparing for her first Sabbath dinner for Harry. Miranda is liberated by Berger’s perspective on men and dating.
TUESDAY, JULY 15BIG BROTHER 4 (CBS, 7 p.m.) Season premiere. This year, there will not be any gay or lesbian housemates.QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY (Bravo, 9 p.m.) The series begins with two back-to-back episodes, both repeating immediately afterwards at 11 p.m. The series will then begin its regular run with a new episode every Tuesday.REAL WORLD PARIS (MTV, 9 p.m.) Gay Simon, 18, has still remained mostly in the background.ISAAC MIZRAHI (Oxygen, 9:30pm) John Leguizamo.Gay Boy Ric is a comedian and pop singer based in L.A. To receive free GTV E-Mail Alerts: gayboyric@yahoo.com